Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-17
ROSCOE CONKLING.
JUDGE BELFORD TALKS OF THE
QUARREL WITH GARFIELD.

Iing-Conkling's Withdrawal No Mis-
take-wbat He Said of It-Interesting
Matter About Two Noted Men.
Especial Correspondence
DENVER Aug. 10.
talked the other night with Judge Bedford
about Senator Conkling and his experiences at
the time Of the trouble between the stalwart
and half breed elements of the Republican
party Bedford was at this time one of the
leading public men at Washington. His elo-
quence on the floors Of congress had made
him reputation as one Of the brightest, If
not the brightest, Of the western members of
the lower house, and lie was close in the cOun
ellis of the Republican leaders. Judge Beford
has always believed that the west should be
as well represented as the east in the presi-
Dental cabinets. He says that no one but a
western man can understand the necessities
of the west, and that powerful
western influence is necessary at the seat
Of government to prevent the president
being unduly Influenced by the east, which,
with the calcium light of the daily press to
help it. can act upon his mind at the moment,
west to get letter to the administration.
Bedford has always thought the secretary OF
the interior should be western man and has
contended that the west should have the in.
terror department. the postoffice department
or tho treasury in the person of one of its
repl Us ntative men. With this view Judge
Belforl called upon Garfield at Mentor
shortly after his election, and urged upon
him the appointment Of Governor Routt rs
| postmaster general, and presented the claim.
| Of the western states in his behalf. Senator
| Hill. Teller and one or two other Colorado
| men went with him, and the party dined will
| Garfield and rode with him In the evening Il
| Cleveland in the caboose OF freight car
| During this ride Garfield turned suddenly t.
| Bedford and said:
"What Is the matter with Conklingf"
Judge Bedford replied that he had heard nc
talk in political circles as to any trouble be
tween him and Conkling, and that he was not
prepared to answer his question.
Gen Garfield then asked Judge Bedford tc
investigate the matter upon his return tc
Washington and to let him know.
I'll is Belford promised to do, and did. He
tells me this was the first inkling he had re.
ceivud as to the existence of any trouble be
tween Garfield and Conkling and says:
~ was surprised to find that Gen. Garfield
doubted Routt's loyalty to him. He said to
me that Routt had been strong Grant man
at Chicago and he feared that no would use
the immense patronage of the posSoffce de-
partment in favor of Grants election as his
(Garfeld's successor, and that he by no mean.
intended that this should he done. / assured
him that Governor Routt would keep faith
with him, if appointed, but from this talk
at work which caused the break between the
friends of President Garfield and Gen. Grant.
allow about your talk with Conkling"
a had an interview with Conkling upor
my return to Washington. Senator Teller
arranged the meeting and the interview
lasted for all hour Upon my stating tha
Garfield thought the party should be har
monious, Senator Conkling said
AZ am not aware that the party is inhar
monious. We have carried New York, Penn
,ylvania and Indiana, and Gen. Garfield ha
been elected president of the United States
cannot imagine discord in an army so vic
torious as ours has been. If there is to he any
iiscord it will be because Gen. Garfield con
siders the objections OF mere omnibus loac
of politicians of greater weight than the
opinion of the whole party itself
"'These DIRECTORS, he went on, Remind me
of the grasshoppers in the field as described
by Edmund Burke: Their buzz fills the who'll,
land while the great herds Craze on in peace
and contentment" There are not enough OF
these indictments to justify letters of admin
istration being taken out Oh their whole pc
litlcal estate
Senator Conkling then said that he thought
Garheld's administration would be a success
full one and be would labor to make it so
There could be no conflict between them un
less Mr.. Garfield precipitated it, He hat
spent three years in conflict with that mar
Hayes and if he was to have trouble will
Garfield there would be no comfort to him ir
public life. He would cheerfuly accept Gar
fields appointments unless it was plain tina
they We're made with view to war upon hi;
(ConklingS) friends, and he was sorry for the
spirit which, according to Governor Foster
prevailed in respect TO the next Senator from
New York, whom, he understood. the presi
dent wanted elected opposed to him"
Did Corkling believe ths!"
ale said he did not" replied Judge Bel
ford and he furthermore said he had no oh
lection to Blaine's going into the cabinet. H,
had no demands upon the president, though
10 did think New York should have the sec
re'ary of the treasury.
| AS we ended the talk Senator COnkIinf
emphatically said: One thing l can assur,
yon: II there is any quarrel between Presi
dent Garfield and myself it will be of hi
making. | am tired of conflicts, and l hav,
only gone into them i'll the past because they
have been forced upon me-
| Il wrote the substance of this talk. con.
tinusd Judge Bslford ito Gen. Garfield a
Mentor, and it was shortly after this tina
Couklng was invited to meet him there
What was the result OF the conference theI
held do not know. l know that this repor
of our talk is correct, for jotted it down a
the time; and Conkling's part OF it was ono
published substantially as l have given it Il
you. 1t was never contradcted nor ques
toned"
"Do you think Conklng resigned with
view of being reelected"
"No," replied Judge Belford, u do not
am sure that he was anxious to get out Of pub
lie life, and that his circumstances were sucl
that he needed to do So He was u scrupu
lousy honest man. and his salary as senate
was not large enough to supply his wants
At the bar he can make from ten to twent,
times as much per year with half the vez